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Adelide Pollard was discouraged. Living in Chicago she taught at several girls' schools. She was also recognized in the city for her admirable ability as an itinerant Bible teacher. Yet, she knew her real calling was to go to Africa as a missionary. A seemingly impossible task for she was unable to raise the money to fund the expedition.
One night, while walking the streets in contemplation, she stopped in on a prayer meeting. She listened to the very simple prayer of an elderly woman, whose words expressed the discontent in Pollard's own heart. The lady prayed, "It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord -- just have your own way with our lives."
Returning home, Pollard kept thinking about the lady's simple yet astute prayer. This led her to study the story parable of the potter in the book of Jeremiah. She began reading, "Then I went down to the potter's house…" Before retiring for the evening, Pollard wrote the popular consecration hymn, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord." Pollard did not make it to Africa in that year of 1902, but God continued to mold her into an outstanding teacher and evangelistic for a ministry in Chicago.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay:
Mould me and make me After Thy will,
While I am waiting, Yielded and still.
Jeremiah had his vision for the parable of the potter as he walked Potter's Street in Jerusalem. Watching the artisans work, Jeremiah realized that God could make us and remake us if we would only submit to his will. It was a lesson that was not lost on Adelide Pollard. Let us hope that it is a lesson that still speaks to us this day.
One night, while walking the streets in contemplation, she stopped in on a prayer meeting. She listened to the very simple prayer of an elderly woman, whose words expressed the discontent in Pollard's own heart. The lady prayed, "It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord -- just have your own way with our lives."
Returning home, Pollard kept thinking about the lady's simple yet astute prayer. This led her to study the story parable of the potter in the book of Jeremiah. She began reading, "Then I went down to the potter's house…" Before retiring for the evening, Pollard wrote the popular consecration hymn, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord." Pollard did not make it to Africa in that year of 1902, but God continued to mold her into an outstanding teacher and evangelistic for a ministry in Chicago.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay:
Mould me and make me After Thy will,
While I am waiting, Yielded and still.
Jeremiah had his vision for the parable of the potter as he walked Potter's Street in Jerusalem. Watching the artisans work, Jeremiah realized that God could make us and remake us if we would only submit to his will. It was a lesson that was not lost on Adelide Pollard. Let us hope that it is a lesson that still speaks to us this day.
